Welder&#39;s protective cape



Nov.6, 1945. G, H, i 2,388,234

WELDERS PROTECTIVE CAPE Filed June 2,1944

Patented Nov. 6, 1945 WELDERS PROTECTIVE CAPE George H. Abel, HuntingdonValley, Pa. Application June 2, 1944, Serial No. 538,372

3 Claims.

This invention relates to welders capes and more particularly to animproved cape affording a greater measure of protection than hasheretofore been available for industrial workers and particularlywelders engaged in overhead weld- The nature and characteristic featuresof the invention will be more readily understood from the followingdescription, taken in connection With the accompanying drawing formingpart hereof, in which:

Figure 1 is a front elevational view of a welders cape in accordancewith the present invention;

Fig.2 is a rear elevational view thereof; and

Fig. 3 is a view of the welders cape with one are raised and illustratina side apron forming part of the present invention.

It should, of course, be understood that the description and drawingherein are illustrative merely, and that various modifications andchanges may be made in the structure disclosed without departing fromthe spirit of the invention.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, the welders cape inaccordance with the present invention is preferably made of any suitablespark resistant and fire resistant material, such for example as chromeleather cut in suitable shapes and joined together by sewing to providea protective garment.

The welders cape in accordance with the present invention preferablyincludes a yoke 10 separable up or down along the central part of thefront and provided with a vertically arranged row of fasteners l I, suchas snap fasteners, for holding the cape in position on the user.

The yoke ID has a lower front edge portion l2 preferably horizontal andadapted to lie about half way down the chest of the user. Th yoke I hasa horizontal rear edge l3 adapted to lie at about the level of theshoulder blades of the user and separate connected panels l4 may beprovided in the back. The yoke Ii] has sleeves l5 connected thereto, thesleeves [5 preferably having upper outer portions 16 formed as acontinuation of the yoke l0, and under and inner portions I1 preferablymade of separate pieces of material and joined to the upper and outerportions l6 of the sleeves IS. The sleeves may be provided with strapsI8 and fasteners H! for gathering the lower part of the sleeves l5 atthe wrist, in close relationship to the wrist of the wearer, therebyaiding in protecting the arms of the user.

The yoke I0 is also preferably provided with a suitable collar 30 whichmay be worn flat as illustrated in Fig. 3, or which may be turned up andsecured at the front by short straps 3| having snap fasteners 32,thereby providing additiona1 protection to the wearer as illustrated inFigs, 1. and 2.

A depending front apron 35 may be provided which is adapted to beremovably secured to the lower front edge l2 of the yoke I0, preferablyby means of a horizontally arranged row of snap fasteners 36. The frontapron 35 preferably extends part way around the sides of the body and atits upper edge terminates just short of the place of attachment of theunder portions of the sleeve portions 11.

An apron beltstrap 31 is fixedly secured to one side edge of the frontapron 35, is adapted to pass around the back of the'user at or below thewaist, and is secured by a snap fastener member 38 carried by anadjustable buckle 39 to the other side edge of the apron 35.

The lower inner margin of each sleeve I5 at the upper terminus of theunder and inner sleeve portion I! has secured thereto a depending sideapron 20' which extends downwardly at least as far and preferably belowthe waist.

The side aprons 20 each preferably have parallel front and rear sidemargins or edges 2| and 22 respectively and a lower edge 23 which isnormally substantially horizontal. The front and rear edges 2| and 22and the lower edge 23 are preferably free and unattached so that theside aprons 20 hang loosely and freely from their places of connectionto the yoke Ill. The side aprons 20 thereby accommodate themselves tothe movements of the user while atthe same time they protect the armpitsand sides of the wearer, particularly when the arms are raised forwelding or the like overhead.

It will thus be seen that the cape in accordance with the presentinvention provides the welder with adequate protection for the exposedparts of the welder and particularly the shoulders, arms, front and rearupper portions of the body and the sides under and below the armpitswhile welding overhead. The hazards heretofore incident upon thischaracter of Work will thus be very greatly reduced.

I claim:

1. A protective garment of fire resistant material comprising a yokeportion covering the shoulders and the upper portions of the front andback, sleeves connected to said yoke, and pendant side apron portionsextending downwardly from the termini of the sleeves at the .looselypendant side apron armpits for protecting the sides of the body, saidside apron portions each having free side edges at the front and rearthereof.

2. A protective garment of'fire resistant material comprising a yokeportion covering the shoulders and the upper portions of the front andback, sleeves connected to said yoke, a depending front apron portionextending downwardly from the front of the yoke portion, and portions uconnected to the sleeves and extendingfreely 'dovvhvvalrdly from thesleeves" at the armpits for protecting the sides of the body, said sideapron portions each having free side marginal edges at the front andrear thereof.

GEORGE H. ABEL.

